Wayne C. Malek, P.E. of Baer Engineering was selected to participate in pilot training and certification program established by the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). SAME established this pilot program to assist with their evaluation of the International Facility Managers Association (IFMA) Certified Facility Manager (CFM) training and certification program. The goal of this pilot program was to determine if IFMA’s CFM training and designation would be of value to individuals performing facility management functions for military buildings and facilities. Mr. Malek was one of about 30 experienced professionals from both civilian and military work environments who obtained IFMA CFM training and completed competency testing by IFMA. The training occurred at the SAME Ohio Valley and Great Lakes Region Education and Training Conference in Pittsgurgh, PA in September 2004. Mr. Malek successfully completed the IFMA CFM test on November 1, 2004 to earned the designation of Certified Facility Manager. Each pilot program participant provided SAME their critique of the IFMA training and CFM certification process. Mr. Malek - “Participation in SAME’s pilot certification program was a mutually beneficial and rewarding experience.”

Therese M. Baer, P.E.
Texas On-Site Wastewater Treatment Research Council

Therese Baer lives in Austin and represents design engineers on the Council. She is the President and principal engineer of Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc.

“My goal as a member of the Council is to continue to improve the water quality in the State of Texas through sound engineering and minimal regulatory oversight,” Baer says.

Baer holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Rice University and has 22 years of experience in civil and environmental engineering. She is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers as well as the Air and Waste Management Association.

Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc. (Baer Engineering) provides oversight, technical direction, and regulatory coordination at spill response events for responsible parties, impacted parties, and insurance companies. Baer Engineering recently provided emergency response service to address a tanker truck spill, south of San Antonio. A tanker truck, hauling mineral oil, rolled over in the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) right of way (ROW). The truck spilled approximately 2,000 gallons of mineral oil, 200 gallons of diesel, and 32 gallons of gasoline. Immediate spill response measures included removal of all visible phase-separated hydrocarbons using sorbent pads and booms. Spill containment measures included covering the area with plastic to prevent stormwater infiltration, which could spread the contamination, until the utility corridor could be cleared and the remaining contaminated soil could be excavated. A total of 240 cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated from the site and characterized for disposal. The work was coordinated so that the soils could be loaded directly from the excavation into dump trucks for transportation to the disposal facility eliminating the cost of rolloff boxes and storage fees. The excavation was backfilled with clean fill dirt and seeded, to complete site restoration. The rapid response of Baer Engineering professionals assured that the spill site did not appear to constitute a significant environmental risk. Baer Engineering protected the client’s interests by ensuring that: (1)Notification of the fuel spill was made in accordance with State of Texas regulations. (2)The report to the TCEQ addressed regulatory directives included in an earlier TCEQ letter.